POLICE INVESTIGATION INTO THE INTERNATIONALLY ACTIVE RING - 'PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW' SAYS DROUSIOTIS - Filenews 31/3 by Fanis Makridis
The burden falls on the Police for what the writer/researcher Makarios Drousiotis accused of to former and current officials through his publication the day before yesterday.
What he records in his long note yesterday on social media projects an image of the existence of an illegal ring and is based on screenshots, which are allegedly the content of private communication of the former Supreme Court official, Michalakis Christodoulou, through his mobile phone.
All this, therefore, will be the subject of an investigative investigation by the Police following relevant instructions from the chief of the Corps, Themistos Arnaoutis, but also a complaint made - for the time being - by one of the persons involved by Drousiotis in the alleged ring. The reason for the former MEP and current candidate of the "Alma" movement, Dimitris Papadakis.
He speaks of an offense
The latter, as he told "F" yesterday afternoon shortly after a meeting with his legal advisors, denounced Drousiotis in a letter to the Chief of Police for at least one criminal offense that carries a prison sentence of up to two years, that of publishing fake news.
At the same time, he told us that he has the mobile phone he used in 2019 and is ready to prove that he has no involvement in what is attributed to him.
Since yesterday morning, however, the vast majority of the persons implicated by Mr. Drousiotis in his publication rushed to deny the content of what he published, characterizing it as unsubstantiated and indirectly charging him with other motives.
The whole scene of the report is also composed of a statement made by Makarios Drousiotis himself in our newspaper. He stressed that he will submit a wealth of evidence, which, as he clarified, is not limited to the screenshots he published from Monday night.
Papadakis has a cell phone
Starting with the statement of Dimitris Papadakis, the former MEP stated, among other things, that his mobile phone that he kept in 2019 and falls within the disputed time period that Drousiotis charges him to communicate with the former judge of the Supreme Court, Michalakis Christodoulou, is at the disposal of the authorities. At the same time, he declares that he is willing to arrange a scientific examination on this device himself.
Yesterday's statement by Papadakis: "(...)I proceeded through my lawyers to an official written complaint against Makarios Drousiotis, sending a specific letter to the Chief of Police himself. In particular, I am filing a complaint against him for possibly committing the offense of publishing false news based on Article 50 of the Criminal Code. Also, in the same complaint, I bring to the attention of the Chief of Police himself the risk of destruction of evidence by Mr. Makarios Drousiotis, which will constitute the commission of the offense, based on Article 120 of the Criminal Code and concerns the destruction of evidence, as the evidence he publishes should be investigated to determine the authenticity and authenticity in relation to its content, of the creators, their sender, their recipient, etc. (…) If Mr. Makarios Drousiotis did not have anything to hide and is sure of their authenticity, he should have taken care to give them to the Chief of Police so that they can receive the appropriate scientific/forensic analysis and research."
Speaking to "F", he also said that he is in a position to prove that he is not involved in any exchange of messages: "I will proceed to appoint a special expert for a forensic investigation of my own telephone device and specifically my mobile phone, which I have held since 2019, with terms of instructing the specific expert to give his conclusion to the Police."
He concluded by telling us that "the Authorities and the Police should move quickly".
Drousiotis: "People need to know"
The position that "they are always trying to find a motive" was expressed to "F" by Makarios Drousiotis, speaking to "F" about the spikes left against him in relation to his long note the day before yesterday. Answering our question yesterday, he said: "They always try to find a motive. People need to know. The public interest is paramount."
He clarified, however, that he will cooperate with the Police and added that "what I have published in my article, I can document to the hilt". At another point he told us: "The Police called me, I will cooperate, I will go with my lawyer and I will give a lot of evidence." In response to our question about the information he is able to give, he clarified: "Beyond what I have published. There is nothing that worries me personally. I hope they will investigate."
"Timely submission"
The Chief of Police appointed a senior officer to lead the investigative investigation on the instructions of the Chief of Police, Themistos Arnaoutis. This was also stated in a statement issued around 14:00 yesterday afternoon by the Police communication sub-directorate. Later, the police force returned with a new newsletter, focusing on the need to provide evidence in a timely manner: "(...)Mr. Drousiotis has stated that he intends to provide relevant evidence, after previously receiving the appropriate legal advice, citing the absence of his lawyer. It is expected that Mr. Drousiotis will respond without further delay to the commitments he has undertaken, contributing substantially to the clarification of the case. The Police are dealing with the issue with due seriousness and responsibility. It is emphasized that the timely submission of the evidence he has mentioned is crucial for the immediate and effective investigation of the case."
What he charged, how did those affected respond to him
As we noted, the majority of the persons involved by Drousiotis in the existence of a ring were placed yesterday rejecting what he puts forward.
The author/researcher attributed through his writings the existence of a ring with international action and a strong presence in Cyprus, leaving clear shadows for illegal activity by the former Supreme Court judge, Michalakis Christodoulou and the participation of other officials, relations with political actors and transactions of exorbitant amounts.
From what he recorded, impressions remain about the justice system and the integrity of judges, the role of political figures such as the former President, Nikos Anastasiadis, the MP and DISY official, Nikos Tornaritis, Dimitris Papadakis and the deputy president of EDEK, Morfakis Solomonidis.
In addition, an attempt is being made to impute manipulation for the judicial development of one of the Focus cases with Christodoulos Christodoulou, Michalis Zolotas and Michael Fole as defendants. Drousiotis also attributes the alleged early appointment of Giorgos Savvidis and Savvas Angelidis to the offices of Attorney General and Assistant Attorney General, respectively.
Drousiotis' notes include phrases such as "Paedophilia, foreclosures, surveillance and rigged trials" and "The dark face of the 'rule of law' in Cyprus" and as he states they are based on screenshots that are allegedly conversations of the former Supreme Court judge, Michalakis Christodoulou.
Since yesterday morning, officials whom he implicated in his notes, reacted:
>> Michalakis Christodoulou spoke of "the height of morbid imagination and lies". Speaking on the show "Alpha Information", he stated that he is at the disposal of any competent authority to investigate the case, expressing the position that "everything is in the imagination of his mind". He stressed that "the least I would expect from a gentleman who declares himself a writer is to have previously conducted research and not write whatever comes to his head."
>> Nicos Anastasiades referred to his book "The Slanderer", in which, as he states, "I analyze that the narratives of Mr. Drousiotis lead only to the conclusion that he is not an innocent mythomaniac, but a fraudulent and consciously lying "writer". He adds that Drousioris "comes to confirm, in the clearest way, what I cite in my book." He concludes by noting that "I refuse to deal with a serial lying Sycophant, waiting for the results of the due police investigation".
>> The former President of the Supreme Court, Myron Nikolatos, speaking to philenews, spoke, among other things, about "fiction", categorically denying that he received any amount. He called on the authorities to investigate and said he was at their disposal.
>> Nikos Tornaritis stressed: "I have already instructed my lawyers to immediately examine this publication and take all necessary measures. At the same time, I call on the competent authorities of the state to fully investigate what is reported."
>> Morfakis Solomonidis in his statement commented that Makarios Drousiotis "with his latest blunder, has even surpassed himself" and added that "he even resorted today to the publication of a screenshot that is supposed to be "proof". This has already been clearly proven that this is a fabricated imprint." He concluded by saying that he will take legal remedies against Drousiotis (libel lawsuit), adding that he will report the case to the Police.
